We disliked

For a camera that charges via USB, it seems strange for Olympus to use a proprietary USB connection, since the camera could be rendered useless for a time if the cable goes missing on your travels.

Occasional wayward exposures, lack of manual control and the slippery finish are all aspects of the Olympus SZ-14 that may be improved upon.

Final verdict

Although there may be a few issues that could be improved upon, such as the non-standard USB interface and the iESP metering system's propensity for overexposure, the Olympus SZ-14 still represents good value for the price.

Point and shoot photographers will love the easy to use interface, selection of automatic scene modes and 'Magic' creative effects, whereas more experienced photographers may wish to look further up the Olympus range for a camera with a little more manual control.

For the price, the range of features and quality of images delivered are about right, making this camera an interesting choice for those after a compact camera for their travels.

Vivid movies and close-ups bring memories of holidays and other trips to life. That's why the latest star of Olympus' compact SZ 'Super Zoom' Series comes with Multi-motion Movie Image Stabilisation (Movie IS) and a massive 24x wide optical zoom lens (25-600mm*). With this powerful new compact, you can zoom right in to shoot close-ups without capturing your own shadow or disturbing your subject. Cutting-edge Multi-motion Movie IS complements it's High Definition Movie capability by reducing blur. It delivers HD movies that are crisp and vivid, even when you're filming moving subjects while walking yourself, for example on the beach with friends and family. With a host of creative Magic Filters you can add a whole range of special effects to your images directly on-camera. The SZ-14 even offers the new Fragmented filter.